What a midweek it was for Tottenham and Liverpool in the Champions League.
Fresh from drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, Spurs should be confident that the same tactics which saw them hold their own against the European champions can help them overcome the Reds.
Of course, Jurgen Klopp’s men are in buoyant mood themselves thanks to a 7-0 win on Tuesday night, albeit against Maribor.
The Lilywhites haven’t beaten Liverpool in their last 10 attempts. It wasn’t glamorous, but they at least now have their first league victory at Wembley following last weekend’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
Danny Rose or Ben Davies?
Either Danny Rose or Ben Davies should be fit to return. The former made his comeback from injury against Madrid, coming off the bench to a reassuringly positive reception despite his summer antics. With the England international back, it gives Tottenham that extra bit of pace down the wing which they have been missing. Davies has proved a more than able deputy and his importance shouldn’t be underestimated after he missed the Bournemouth game through illness. If Rose is ready, though, he has to start.
Coutinho’s role
Philippe Coutinho was utterly dominant against Maribor and his team-mates will want to afford him the same freedom again. The Brazilian can play such a variety of roles that it’s difficult to predict where he’ll start formation-wise. However, what has been demonstrated this season is that Liverpool are effective when he drops deep as well as roaming forward and out wide.
The central-midfield battle
That leads onto the next key area of the midfield. When Spurs announced their starting line-up against Madrid, the thought of Harry Winks facing Luka Modric and Toni Kroos seemed funny to some. Safe to say, it was no laughing matter by the end as the youngster once again proved himself as more than comfortable at the highest level. It’s that balance of creativity and sturdiness in the middle that Liverpool themselves need to emulate, as they don’t always get that from Jordan Henderson.
Can Liverpool stifle Harry Kane?
For all his goalscoring exploits over the last six weeks or so, Harry Kane is yet to score a league goal at Wembley. Surely that has to change soon, but it’s up to Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip to make sure it doesn’t happen against them. Lovren, in particular, has too often afforded opponents that extra inch this season and if he does that against the two-time Golden Boot winner, he’ll likely be left regretting it.
Mohamed Salah is the danger man
Liverpool will be without Sadio Mane, the man who ripped through Spurs at Anfield last season. In his absence, they need to be more clinical than they were against Manchester United, as they had 19 shots in the goalless draw. Pochettino isn’t going to set his team up for a Jose Mourinho performance so this should be a relatively open game. It’s down to Mohamed Salah to stretch Tottenham, with his pace his deadliest asset. We’re yet to see the best of Gini Wijnaldum, shifting the onus even further onto Salah to create chances.
Five different goalscorers. ⚽
Which of these Reds was it most pleasing to see finding the net?
